Last week, David Sills of Bear (Del.) had seen all he needed when it came time to pick a college to play football.

The fact he made a verbal commitment to Southern Cal wasn't a surprise, but that he's just a 13-year-old is.

A six-foot seventh grader who can throw an amazing ball just took himself off the market.

No barrage of phone calls from coaches, no five pounds of recruiting letters a day, no scouts hanging around practice and games, no camps to try and land a scholarship.

But what if Sills changes his mind? He still has five years to do so. Just in case, here's a few built-in excuses to back out before the 2015 (or 2014) National Letter-of-Intent Day.

"Hey, coach, I'm going to have to renege on my verbal commitment from 2010 because ... "

10. Go with the classic. Just plead ignorance. "Hey, I'm a just a 13-year old. What did you expect? You're the grown-ups. I'm lucky if I can pick out my own video game. What were you thinking?"

9. The cloud of NCAA sanctions still hangs over your head from former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.It's been how many years now, but the program could be hit with penalties any day now. I can't allow my college career to begin with a cloud over it. I've been waiting to play college since I was a little kid.

8. My dad told me if I don't pick USC right now, he was going to make me clean the garage

and the attic this weekend — the whole weekend!

7. USC coach Lane Kiffin. Coach promised me he'd be there in five years when I arrive. He lasted less than two years with the Oakland Raiders and less than one with the Tennessee Volunteers. Now, he's leaving again? What was I thinking?

6. My girlfriend, who's older than me by the way, said she was going to UCLA and wants us to go to school together. Something about us being together forever.Who am I to argue? Sorry, coach. Good luck with your recruiting.

5. My agent thinks it's in my best interest to keep all options open. He's pretty wise. He's been advising me since the second grade, when I made my middle school commitment.

4. USC? Southern Cal? Oh, I thought I signed with the University of South Carolina. Boy, do I feel embarrassed. My bad.

3. It's always been my dream to play for coach Kiffin and now he's at the University of Delaware.Maybe you remember my earlier commitment to him before he left? Plus, the Blue Hens have produced NFL quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Rich Gannon. It's a quarterback hotbed!Plus, I get to sleep in my own room. Bonus!

2. You know, that whole year-round sun-sand-surf-Hollywood movies-models-starlets-thing just doesn't look good anymore. Sounds like the same boring thing day after day.Now, Bear, Delaware. That's a town!1. You know, all this recruiting stuff is making my head hurt. I'm going to get my graham cracker and juice box and take a nap.Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.